We come to the time of our Sunday evening meditation on September 27th 1953. Tonight I have something to share with you which I believe has tremendous significance. I've been working with you and for you a long time, seeking to develop a preparedness, a readiness, for a larger sphere of service; but in the cycles of accomplishment it appears that we must always, for a time at least, begin before we are ready. As you know we recently passed our Anniversary period [September 16, 1953]. I offered you, at that time, the opportunity of sharing with me in a deeper realization of our Purpose and Divine Commission, and the manner of function under that Commission. There has been forward progress and you accepted it seriously. There have been some tendencies to forget, but, once the Commission is established one cannot delay over long, and beginning function under it. From an outer standpoint, twenty-one years ago, it could be easily said that I was not ready; and yet there was nothing to do but begin—which I did. We've passed through these three cycles, [1932-39; 1939-46; 1946-53] as I pointed out to you earlier, and we come to the point where we must move in the pattern of this new cycle. And, as we move into it, there are basic responsibilities. I trust sincerely that all of you will prove to be sufficiently centered so that you may share the responsibilities and privileges of this new cycle without undo stress; and certainly it would be sad if any were eliminated under the pressures of the cycle. But we have the necessity of the discharge of our responsibility.
It has sometimes seemed to me that those with whom I work closely, whether here or in the field, tended to imagine somehow, perhaps subconsciously, that my job was fundamentally to work with them, and that if they needed a long period of time to make progress, well then it was supposedly my responsibility to just let it be so. But it isn't so. You share with me a responsibility with respect to the people of the world, and the time has come when we must begin to discharge that responsibility on a larger basis. In many respects, this present situation reminds me of the circumstance as it was twenty-one years ago.
While we have met some of our heavy and most pressing obligations, we have a number of obligations which have not been met, and which must be met in the near future. We have financial limitations. From a financial standpoint, it seems to be a very inopportune time to say, “Now we are going to pull our stakes and enlarge the borders of our tent.” But regardless of financial situations, this is exactly what we are going to do. We're going to enlarge the borders of our tents. And so, in the outer sense, the lack of preparedness—I would that you were better prepared, better centered. I would that all the crosscurrents had been cleared from among you. I would that the same things were true with respect to all those in the field. But we have come to the time when delay is no longer possible. We're going to move into it on a “sink-or-swim” basis. There's an old saying that the best way to teach a child to swim is take him out in the middle of the lake and throw him in. Well, I wouldn't want to do that literally, and you've had a few lessons in learning to swim, but the time comes when we move on a sink-or-swim basis. And I hope you all swim. It's the best way.
In any case, tonight I wish to begin to open up the vibratory pattern with respect to this enlarged sphere of function. If we all function correctly it can move forward without too much difficulty. Failure to function correctly can mean some tragedies along the way, some casualties, but regardless of tragedies and casualties we're going to move. I've been working vibrationally to bring to focus the material that would be best suited, under these present world conditions, to an introduction of this Service to the world. And, the latter part of it I had to hold vibrationally today, while I was with you on the picnic, and I finished writing it out tonight, this evening, and now here it is.
One of the things that I need to bring to your attention is this: we might call this a “baby”. And perhaps you might be inclined to develop some ideas in your own minds as to what ought to be, or ought not to be, in this manuscript. For instance, it's possible that someone would raise the question as to why there is not a dissertation upon the One Law in this manuscript. I have a reason. I anticipate that there will be a second. If this accomplishes anything, there'll need to be a second; and the place for that dissertation, and the consideration of various other subjects which could be considered, is not in this booklet but in another, whether the next one or one to follow. We shall see. So, I am not presenting this to you tonight with the idea that you will let your minds go up on tangents with respect to suggestions as to what else could be in it. That isn't the point. There are many things that can be considered.
But I'm offering it to you on the basis of a consideration of what is in it; not of something else that mightbe in it; on a basis of consideration of what it is. And while I'll be very much interested in your comments, I might warn you in advance that I'll not be moved by any concept that something that is in it ought not to be. Perhaps you think that's dictatorial. I don't. I've carefully worked this out in the vibrational pattern over a long period of time, and to the degree that you have worked with me I have used your vibrational patterns to produce it. Sometimes they have hindered rather than helped. But in any case, you have had your opportunity already, to help establish whatever needed to be established with respect to this focalization. It is something that is passed due to the pattern of your function, during the past year particularly. So, whatever you had to author in the vibrational field, toward bringing this to point, you've already done; and the development of some concept one way or another will have no bearing on the matter, because it will not change the vibrational factors that have already been established.
You will perhaps begin to learn that what you are doing has a bearing, not only with respect to that which is immediately at hand, that which you can see and touch and feel, but upon that which is taking form in the future, the vibrational factors that are being brought to focus, the cycles that are being opened or expanded, initiated or developed, so that you may have a consciousness of the fact that day-by-day, with respect to many things of which you may not be aware, you are either helping or hindering. Tonight I have no wish to consider any of these factors, other than those with which you have helped. If for some reason you may come to the conclusion that you have not helped enough, well then that's too bad. We'll have to forgive and forget it, and let the days yet to come have greater meaning than the days that have gone. But there is the necessity of realizing that, each day, you are either helping to prepare that which is to take form in the days to come, or you’re hindering in its manifestation—and what is done is done.
I trust that as I present this, you will function correctly in the vibrational field, in relationship to it. There is no necessity that the stress factors, which are bound to appear, should appear here. Perhaps a word to the wise will prove to be sufficient.
This which is to become a booklet, is designed for wide distribution, distribution wherever there is interest, distribution through service centers, distribution through the mail, distribution wherever we can find an honorable way to release the factors that are involved. And so, we are on the pattern of launching—launching our ship of service into deeper waters, to set sail, and see what shall appear on the sea of life. If there is sufficient appreciation, recognition, of the significance of this moment, this hour, you will all find ways and means by which you may help to intensify and enlarge the cycle of movement.
But there is also another factor, other than direct service—for instance, in helping to increase distribution of these booklets when they are ready. I think tonight, after you have heard the words that are here written, you will realize more deeply—at least I trust you do—that you will realize more deeply your responsibility, and the necessity of right function, lest that which is set in motion shall, by reason of that motion, wash you away. There will be some reactions in the world. If they come, can we let them wash round and about, or over, and pass away, and be as if they had never been? Are you ready to prove, on the field of service, the reality of your centering?
And these words that I have spoken in introduction are not just to you. They are to you, but they are to every member of our Service in the field, every student of the Third Sacred School, to every member of the Church of the Emissaries of Divine Light, to every server, to all who will share in our Program.
Let us have a moment of devotion. Our gracious LORD and KING, I thank Thee for this hour. I thank Thee for those who share this hour with me, both in person and in Spirit, that we may worship Thee in Spirit and in Truth, and move forward in the Way which Thou didst open, that we may accomplish that to which we are called in Thy Holy Name, to the end that Thy Service may be increased, and to the end that all things may work together to perfection for all who love and serve Thee, in the Christ. Aumen.
The title for this booklet consists of three short words: Let Us Live. Let us live. This booklet carries a dedication: “A dedication to two billion bipeds of the species homos sapiens.” And the first presentation in it is entitled, “Theory”.
Theory
“We cannot clearly perceive the needs of our own lives, or attain a state of life satisfactory to ourselves, until we individually experience an harmoniously equalized integration of the four aspects of being: body, mind, emotion and spirit.”
Meditation will show that there is a good deal in that one sentence, the one sentence which outlines the theory which we accept, or which establishes our premise. I'll read it again. “We cannot clearly perceive the needs of our own lives, or attain a state of life satisfactory to ourselves, until we individually experience an harmoniously equalized integration of the four aspects of being: body, mind, emotion and spirit.” The next portion is entitled:
Approach to Investigation
“We must be willing to learn. We must face facts. We must accept that which proves to be true. If that which we already think and believe were in all respects correct and true we would not have so many problems, and life would hold more meaning for us. Our purpose is not to justify and defend what we already think and believe, but to discover what it is that we should think and believe. Let me repeat that sentence. Our purpose is not to justify and defend what we already think and believe, but to discover what it is that we should think and believe.
“We must dare to think for ourselves; we must dare to act on the basis of that which we discover to be true. Prejudice, if allowed to rule, will defeat us. Fear is faith in that which opposes our progress. Believing a lie will not make it true. Believing truth to be false will not make it so. Many people are not honest with themselves, and so defeat themselves. Let us learn how to be honest with ourselves. We need zeal without fanaticism. The fanatic loses perspective and defeats himself. We need to be practical, realistic, and scientific.” The next section:
What of Religion?
“We respect all religions. We have no quarrel with any religion. We encourage you to attend the church of your choice. We do not proselytize. But we feel that all religions cannot be entirely right. There must be one truth. If anyone of the recognized religions were wholly right there should be more power to change lives than we have yet seen. If religion is primarily concerned with the hereafter, we will disregard religion and leave the matter to the many churches. Our immediate concern is with this present life, that we may live. If we would learn to live this present life effectively, we must consider the spiritual factors of life, without regard to religious belief. The names of beliefs that divide men are not our concern. We would rise above all man-made boundaries, and learn the truth about God, and about our relationship with deity, from the standpoint of living today. Broadly speaking, the churches are concerned with what happens after death, and with present living only as they think it relates to what happened after death. We are concerned about what happens before death. Effective living now should not interfere with such prospects as one may have for the hereafter.” Effective living now should not interfere with such prospects as one may have for the hereafter.
What Does It Mean to Live?
"You were born on earth. You have a purpose on earth. You are individual. The Divine Design that makes you different from every other person on earth should not be wasted. You can do something on earth which no other person can do. You are important on earth. Your life on earth is important. Why do we have noble aspirations? Why do we wish to achieve something worthwhile? Why do we wish to mean something to others? Can we mean something to others without having meaning to ourselves? Can we mean something to ourselves without having meaning to others? A great man or woman is great because he or she has much meaning to others? The more you have meaning to others, the more you enjoy life. If you are going to enjoy life, you need to use your abilities in a manner which helps others to enjoy life. Health of body, mind, heart, emotional nature, and spirit is important to the enjoyment of life. The value of anything man makes or owns is determined by what it will do, or by what man can do with it. What can you do with your body? What can you do with your mind? What can you do with your emotional nature? What can you do with your spirit? Your value depends on what is done on earth because you live. Your value depends on what is done on earth because you live? Your joy in living is measured by what you do and not by what you get or own. What you get depends on what you do. Your job is not what classifies what you do.”
Now there's one little sentence that needs to be remembered, always, here or anywhere, all the time, wherever you are; because when you get into a pattern where you imagine that your job, here or anywhere, is a thing that classifies what you do, then you're wrong. You've lost sight of the reality of your responsibility.
“Your job insofar as physical action is concerned is always secondary to something else. Your job whatever it may be, I do not care, whatever your job is, it does not classify what you! Your doing is your living. The sum total of all your actions, your thoughts, your words, your feelings, your attitudes, plus the directions of your responses—that which controls your doing controls your living.” And we can read that one again: “That which controls your doing controls your living.” Our next section is entitled:
Our Starting Point
“There are several broad patterns of religion in the world. For the present we will not directly consider the basic segments of religion classified as Mohammadan and Hindu. The three great faiths, as often mentioned, relate to basic religious patterns which are called Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish. Two of these are combined to indicate what is called the Christian world. The other Branch could then be called the Jewish world. These two worlds have their centering in the two parts of the Holy Bible, the Jewish world being centered in concepts derived from Old Testament scripture and the Christian world being centered in concepts derived from New Testament scripture. To this we must add one more segment of the basic pattern of religion, namely, the atheistic world as it appears today through Red Russia. Atheism must be seen as a religion in which man seeks to make himself supreme to himself, thereby destroying the dignity of life. The struggle is present within human beings everywhere, of all colors and creeds, has taken form within the human family as the contest between the Christian world and the Jewish world on the one hand and the atheistic world of Communism on the other hand.
“The struggles within the human family must first be resolved within the human being. Our starting point is, then, is with that which is called God by the Jewish world and the Christian world. We need a new vision of God, a new understanding of God, wherein we see and know the basic truth as recognized in both the Jewish and Christian worlds, so that to us there will be no division between the two. We need to find the one-God-world as opposed to the no-God-world. We need to find the one-God-world as opposed to the no-God-world.” Our next section is entitled:
Our Initial Theory About God
“Man cannot form himself or initiate life in himself. Man cannot form himself or initiate life in himself. If we conceive nature to be the mechanism through which creative force works to form the babe in the womb, we must acknowledge a source for the creative force. Force must be controlled and applied within a design before we have purposeful power. We must select a starting point. If we assume that the Bible must have some meaning we can anticipate discovering therein certain keys which may have been overlooked or inadequately understood. Let us look for ourselves without the vast array of smothering concepts which have crystallized in the minds of millions. If we use the word man in the plural sense we mean “mankind.” In the Biblical story of creation we find the words, “And God said let us make man”—mankind—“in our image and after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the earth.” If the plural is seen, and mankind means the whole human family made up of two billion human beings, and mankind was made in the image and likeness of God, then God is made up of untold millions of God Beings all of whom together make the One God just as the millions of human beings make up the one mankind. “Hear, O Chosen Ones, the LORD our God is One God.”
“As there are leaders in the human family so must there be leaders, or supreme points of focalization, in the God family. Since the body of mankind is made up of many members, and mankind was made in the likeness of the God who said, “Let us make”, it is evident that, according to the scriptures, the body of God is made up of many members, or God Beings, by whatever name called.” The next portion here is entitled:
Man's Purpose On Earth
“Have you ever asked the question, “Why am I here?” Generally speaking, most philosophies assume that man is merely a creature of chance who has no meaning after death, or that man is here on earth to prepare somehow for some state after death. Our text indicates that God created man to have dominion on earth. The original purpose for man must be the present purpose for man. There is no valid reason to believe that God changed his mind and established some other purpose for man.”
Let's repeat that sentence. “There is no valid reason to believe that God changed His mind and established some other purpose for man.”
“As far as we are concerned, let us assume that God's original purpose for man still stands; and that that purpose has nothing to do with the popular concept of being saved for a hereafter. Human beings do not, obviously, have the dominion over the earth, and all the things that are therein, which they are supposed to have. We have institutions full of people who are physically and mentally sick. Trouble is everywhere; suffering is all around us. To blame our sufferings, sickness and trouble on the will of God is an inconsistent blasphemy. A dependable car manufacturer makes an automobile with the expectation that it will run and give good service. He does not will that it should break down. If man is thus honest, how much more so is God? If you were made in the likeness of God, does God get sick, suffer, have tragedy and trouble? We might admit that God has had trouble with man, but God did not will that trouble. God has made every provision necessary to make it possible for us to live on earth without the problems which prevent us from having dominion. We can fulfill our purpose and have dominion on earth. We were created to be on earth, to have our home on earth. We should let heaven come on earth.” Our next chapter has the title:
All The Sons Of God
“Let us take a new look at the New Testament. Could it be that the word “Christ” should not be thought of as the name of a man. Whatever else Jesus may have been, he was a great teacher—He was a prophet. A prophet is one who speaks the Word of God on earth. He said, “The words I speak unto you, I speak not of myself.” Therefore, if we accept His own words about himself, we will accept His teaching as being from the Father and not as being about himself as a person, or a man. The idea that God had only one son, in the sense of one being who appeared as one man, is not supported by anything which God the Father spoke through the lips of Jesus. The Father, speaking through the lips of Jesus, the prophet, said, “The works that I do shall ye do also, and greater works than these shall ye do.” This was spoken concerning any person anywhere at any time, for He said, “He that believeth on me”—which is without limit as to time, place or person—but this was the Word of the Father and not the Word of Jesus, as He himself said.
“The greatest thing which Jesus did was to reveal the Father, do the works of the Father, and speak the words of the Father. He indicated clearly that we can and should follow Him in such doing. When we examine the matter carefully, we find no basis for believing that Jesus died for us, but we can find much evidence that He lived for us, in the sense that His living, His teaching, His doing, reveal to us the way by which we can live, and learn to accept our divinely ordained places among the sons of God on earth. From the words of the Father through Jesus we read, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” He did not say that He was going to be crucified so that we could be free. From the same source, we have these words, “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” The next chapter is headed:
God's Only Begotten Son
“From the standpoint of reason, it is logical to assume that the only begotten Son of God should have reference to the sum total of the essence of being which issues forth from God. When we examine carefully all the Biblical passages which have a bearing on this subject, which for lack of space cannot all be presented here, we begin to find that the term “Christ” relates to the spirit of the Father. or the spirit which issues forth from God and reveals the presence of God. Looking again to the Old Testament, we find that the same truth was known in olden times. The term “Shekinah” as you used in connection with the revelation of the presence of God above the Ark means, “The evidence of the Presence of the One Who Dwells.” The Shadow of the Almighty has reference to Shekinah. We find that the Shekinah of the Old Testament and the Christ of the New Testament mean exact exactly the same thing. There is no conflict between the two revelations of God's Truth. “The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle and shone round about.” “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory.” The evidence of the Presence of the Father as revealed through Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, which is the Christ Spirit of love, truth and life which issues forth from God. The Shekinah was revealed as the Cloud of Glory—Life; the Light that Glows—Truth; and the Fire that Burns—Love. The word “Word” as used in the First Chapter of John means “Shekinah”, and when so read the passage begins to have real meaning. Shekinah was a secret word, and many ways of indicating the word without actually saying or writing it were used. Shekinah or Christ was and is the only begotten Son of God.” The next chapter carries the title:
The Great Atrocity
“In our new look at the New Testament we come to the point where we must choose between the ideas derived from the writings of Saint Paul and the record of the words of the Father as spoken through the lips of Jesus. Paul said that if we do not believe that Jesus died for us, the truth is not in us. This idea supposes that God will not forgive our sins unless we believe that Jesus paid the price on the cross. But that is not what Jesus said. It is not what Jesus taught. He taught men to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” He went on to say that if we forgive others, our heavenly Father will forgive us. This was long before the crucifixion. And Jesus did not qualify His statement in any way. If we study what Jesus said, we find that it was not God's will that He was crucified. It was an atrocity for which the whole human family was responsible; not just the people who were present in person, but all mankind. Let us be consistent and honest with ourselves. If Jesus had to die on the cross so we could be forgiven and saved, then Jesus did not know it—in fact He did not know what he was talking about!
“If He had to die to save us, Judas who betrayed Him should be the chief of all the saints, for he made it possible for us to be saved. Pilate should also be acknowledged as a great saint, for although he could find no fault with Jesus he turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. These are the men who should be our great saints, if Jesus dying had anything to do with our salvation. The soldiers who drove the nails should be counted high among the saints, for their action is supposed to have made it possible for us to be saved.” The next chapter is:
The Gospel
“The word “gospel” means “good news”. We have heard much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but He stated His own “good news” in these words, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” There is not one recorded word from the lips of Jesus which even remotely suggests that His Gospel had anything to do with dying on a cross. If we are going to assume that Jesus Himself knew what He was talking about, and that He knew what His purpose on earth really was, we must accept His own statement of His Gospel, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He did not say, Heaven is at hand.” But He did say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Some have suggested that His word on this point was true only because He was here on Earth, and that as soon as He left, the Kingdom of Heaven was no longer at hand. How then can we explain His Word, “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, and then shall the end come.” He had stated that the Gospel of the Kingdom was that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He also taught men to pray, Thy kingdom come.” Thy kingdom come—when? Now. Not sometime in the future. Where? In our lives here on earth.
“Not heaven but the Kingdom of Heaven. The word “Kingdom” clearly indicates control and an understanding of the design through which control must work. Man was created to have dominion on earth. The Good News Jesus brought was that the means by which we might be restored to the state of dominion was at hand, within reach. available to you and me, and to all. When that truth is known. the end comes. The end of what? The end of the evil state in which we have no dominion, not the end of the earth, not the end of life on earth, the end of our failure to be what God created us to be. The Gospel of the Father as expressed by Jesus is the key to a new vision: the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” The next chapter carries this title:
The Truth Shall Make You Free
“If we accept the idea that it is possible that Jesus knew what He was talking about, and that what He stated is of value to us, we must examine His words, the words of God the Father through His lips, without regard to all the ideas of others, whether they be the words of Saint Paul, or someone else. Who was it that decided that Paul's words were so important? Who was it who classified his words as the words of God? There are two questions. Who was it that decided that Paul's words were so important. Who was it who classified his words as the words of God. Examination of the record shows that not even Peter had a true understanding of what Jesus taught. Those who wish to believe in Peter have a perfect right to do so. Those who wish to believe in Paul have a perfect right to do so. Just so, we feel that we have a perfect right to believe in Jesus. Our experience indicates that those who are most unsure of their position will be those who most strenuously object to examination of any new ideas, if they are controlled by prejudice. Otherwise they will be willing to take a new look, a careful look to find the truth. Only the truth will stand. Only the truth can make you free—free to be what you ought to be, free to enjoy dominion in life here and now, on earth.
“We have touched briefly on only a few points. Many questions should arise. If they are honest questions from one who seeks to know the truth, we will welcome the privilege of further study with you. If you are satisfied with what you already believe, we have no desire to change you. This brief approach to our problem of truly living is only an introduction. We are finding a vital relationship with God. We are beginning begin to prove God's power in our lives. That power allows healing of the physical body; that power allows a clearing of heart and mind; that power allows the responding one to live in the awareness of the Presence of God.”
And that's it. That's it. No one of the chapters is more than one page, double spaced. There are fourteen pages overall, including the cover, or title page, as I have them here in manuscript. It means that it won't be a very large booklet, in size. But what would happen if we put even 10,000 of them out across the land? Are you ready? [someone replied: “You bet!”] Very well then. Good night and God bless you.
